The global climate (全球气候) has been changing over thousands of years. The global average temperature (平均气温) today is about 15℃. Scientists find that the planet is warming faster than ever before. The 20 warmest years on record have been in the past 22 years. If this situation continues, temperatures may rise by 3—5℃ by 2100.

Scientists say we should try to stop the situation and not allow the global average temperature to rise more than 1.5℃. Even a 2℃ rise will be bad for us all. Now, 0.5℃ doesn’t sound like much—but it could make a big difference to the planet.

A 2℃ rise means that all the coral reefs (珊瑚礁) will disappear, but a 1.5℃ rise means that there will still be some. Also, 18 percent of the insects (昆虫) on the earth will disappear if the temperature goes up by 2℃. But only 6 percent will disappear at 1.5℃. A 2℃ rise will also mean that 37 percent of people will be influenced by dangerous heatwaves. That’s twice the number compared to at a 1.5℃ rise.

Do you want to know what scientists say? They say that everyone and everything is far better off in a world that limits the rise to 1.5℃.

So, what can we do? Please return to us in our magazine next month, you will read about the advice given by the world’s top scientists, researchers and leading environmental protectors. We’d also like to hear about your ideas and suggestions. Please write to us at 123socialmagazine@yahoo.co.uk. Let’s work together to limit the temperature rise to 1.5℃.

If English means endless new words, difficult grammar and sometimes strange pronunciation, you are wrong. Haven’t you noticed that you have become smarter since you started to learn a language?

According to a new study by a British university, learning a second language can lead to an increase in your brain power. Researchers found that learning other languages changes grey matter. This is the area of the brain which processes information. It is similar to the way that exercise builds muscles.

The study also found the greater the effect is, the younger people learn a second language. A team led by Dr. Andrea Mechelli, from University College London, took a group of Britons who only spoke English. They were compared with a group of “early bilinguals”, also called second language learners (SLL) before the age of five, as well as a number of later learners.

Scans showed that grey matter density (密度) in the brain was greater in bilinguals than in people without a second language. But the longer a person waited before mastering a new language, the smaller the difference. “Our finding suggests that the structure of the brain is changed by the experience of learning a second language.” said the scientists.

It means that the change itself increases the ability to learn. Professor Dylan Vaughan Jones of the University of Wales, has researched the link between bilingualism and maths skills. “Having two languages gives you two windows on the world and makes the brain more flexible (灵活的),” he said. “You are actually going beyond language and have a better understanding of different ideas.”

The findings were matched in a study of native Italian speakers who had learned English as a second language between the ages of 2 and 34. Reading, writing, and comprehension were all tested. The results showed that the younger they started to learn, the better. “Studying a language means you get an entrance to another world.” explained the scientists.